Career Lessons from Bridgegate: Don’t be a Savior or a Martyr

Time and again we are witness to crises of major proportion that often are unbelievable and defy a thinking person's logic. Bridgegate is one such example. How on heaven's green earth would anybody with an ounce of intelligence think that they could get away with creating a traffic jam on a major artery between New York and New Jersey and not get caught.  Moreover how could a senior executive in government service on the scale of New Jersey be so dumb as to think this was a good move for the Governor. Retribution, I suggest, is a dangerous playmate.

The career lessons learned from this debacle are rich, robust and many.  Here are just a few.  

 

Don’t be a savior or a martyr.  Be loyal but not stupid. Always have the boss' back but not at the expense of your moral compass and personal integrity.  Before you sacrifice yourself or try to save the day, let your conscious be your guide.  The life you save may be your own. 

 

Ethics rules.  Personal ethics matter. Ethical behavior is de rigueur for any career and critical to career survival and growth.   At the end of the day, all you have is your credibility.  Stay honest.

Play fair. Politics in the office can never end well. It is poison in the workplace and will never help you get ahead. Instead as we know from bridgegate you will very likely lose your head.

 

Retribution is a dangerous game. It never ends well and almost always comes back like a bad penny, harming the originator.  Your career and good reputation are not worth the risk.  If you have a beef, state it, discuss the dynamics, generate a solution and get past it.

 

Fess up. If you crossed the line in the sand on ethics or even made a mild faux pas, admit, apologize, fix and move on, all the wiser.

 

Run a tight ship. Manage your career well and with rigor. Follow your moral compass and always do the right thing. Be honest and open. One of the side benefits is you need never stretch the truth or orchestrate highway havoc.

 

Learn the lessons of history.  How many examples does the world need to benefit from faux pas of the past?  The books are littered with example after example of screw ups, indiscretions, bad behavior and man’s inhumanity to man.  Let’s start benefitting from lessons learned people.

How Best to Employ Your Inner Voice in the Job Search - Respect Your Gut

You just finished three job interviews in a week and are still Monday quarterbacking about how well you did or did not.  You are analyzing every question and answer to grade your performance with the hope that you got a touchdown and will soon be on your second interview cycle with the offer letter close behind.  Then reality sets in and you hear nothing for the next several weeks except the sound of your own criticism and an occasional heartbeat.  What to do?  Did you answer all the questions well?  "Was it something I said?"  "Did I say enough?"  The pain and uncertainty are killing you. 

Take a deep breath!  One, two, three, etc.....  Ok relax. Compose yourself as well as a thoughtful note of gratitude for having been given the opportunity to present your case for the job.  Use your interview notes, analysis and intuition to present three essential points for why you are right person for the job.  Then get on with it. Put it past you.  Get beyond the distraction.  If you used well your inner voice to communicate your value proposition, the hiring manager or HR person may take note and likely include you in the consideration set for the next round of interviews (or not.) If not, kiss that position goodbye, learn from it and move on.  Here are a few other thoughts about employing your inner voice to de-stress about your interview. 

1. Remember the law of averages.  The more you interview the higher the probability you will connect with the right opportunity that will feel right and be the right fit.  Trust your gut. The sober thought is that it is going to take time to find the right fit.  But it will happen.  A good friend of mine just landed after three years on the hunt -- a bear of an adventure he dares and hopes not to reprise.

2. Keep your expectations in check.  If the job does not feel right, do the interview anyway for the experience.  You may learn something about yourself and what makes you tick. Remember, the higher the expectations the greater the disappointment.

3. Maintain perspective.  It is only one job. In your heart and mind you know there are others.  Deep down you sensed that the job was just ok.  Your heart did not race at the prospect of working for Mr. or Mrs. Big and your inner voice could care less.  No big deal.

4. Recognize the chemistry.  When you do get the interview for the job that is meant for you, there will be a ping of adrenalin that gets your mind racing and hopefully your imagimnation soaring.  In this case, give it all you've got.  Picture yourself in the role and let your inner voice speak about what you can accomplish and why the glove fit.  Follow up with the authentic you and not some prepackaged response you got out of an outplacement manual.  When the call comes, go for it. Otherwise move to Step 5

5. Go to step and repeat.   When all else fails, respect your gut.